Police vow to clamp down on dangerous and anti-social drivers
Sussex Police is pulling out all the stops to crack down on dangerous and anti-social motorists.
Responding to concerns from residents, senior police officers have vowed to dedicate manpower, cutting-edge technology and community engagement to make the roads safer.
Addressing around 200 residents last month, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne said road safety was the ‘biggest priority’ in correspondence she received from the public.
A recent road safety survey by PCCS across the country found 74 per cent of Sussex residents saw traffic offences on a daily or weekly basis and the vast majority wanted to see fines for speeding or not wearing a seatbelt doubled. Thirty-nine people died in collisions last year.
Mrs Bourne said Sussex’s
strong response to the survey showed road safety was a priority.
“Not only do we now have national evidence to bring to government and influence change but I also have feedback locally to present to the Chief Constable so she may continue to improve the policing response,” she said.
“We have had reports recently that some drivers have been using the roads as ‘racetracks’, illegally modified vehicles are causing noise pollution in our neighbourhoods and antisocial driving is worse than ever.
“Sussex Police will be continuing to strengthen their roads policing units and these results will inform the work they do with partners on successful engagement, education and enforcement campaigns to tackle the problems.”
Sussex’s Road Policing Unit (RPU), led by Chief Inspector Michael Hodder, set out a short, medium and long term strategy for combating the issue in a seminar last month.
The RPU has placed community engagement as the cornerstone of its response to identify where the problems lie.
Community Speed Watch, a neighbourhood watch for road safety, has over 1,500 volunteers informing police.
In the short term, this allows officers to be located in hotspots, but technology could hold the key to tackling rogue motorists in the long run. Handheld decibel meters, typically used to assess house parties or planning disputes, have been introduced to gather evidence on loud motorists.
A trial of static acoustic cameras, similar to speed cameras but also measuring sound, is underway in london with a view to introducing them in Sussex.
Drones also capture entire areas, rather than individual streets, showing the wider effects of biker groups or speedsters.
Heavy goods vehicles are being weighed with portable scales, with punishments for those which err from approved transport routes.
Officers also work with agencies such as local authorities, East and West Sussex fire and rescue services and Highways England as part of the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership.
While local and highways authorities handle the engineering side of road safety, police operate mobile speed cameras and monitor road users, as well as help educate the public.
Road safety looks set to feature heavily when Mrs Bourne lays out her priorities for the next four years in a new police and crime plan.